ITN asked readers to name the three cities they most enjoyed visiting outside of North America. Responses were printed in the July '03 issue, inspiring more letters, which are presented below. You can send in your Top 3 list to Favorite Cities Overseas, c/o ITN, 2120 28th St., Sacramento, CA 95818, or e-mail editor@intltravel news.com (please include your surface-mail address). Mention when you last visited each city, and include pictures, if possible.

Favorite cities overseas? Only three? That's tough, "out here goes.

1. Vienna, hands down. We lived in the first district for two years (1988 to 1990), visited again in 1996 and 1998 and still haven't become bored with this beautiful city.

What made it a treat for us? Where should I start? The Musikverein and its wonderful concerts (especially Strauss); the State Opera House, where we saw "Swan Lake"; the Naschmarkt, that amazing 2-block-square produce market in the sixth district, and the associated Saturday flea market: Karntnerstrasse and Graben, lined with exciting shops; the restaurants, coffeehouses and bakeries (thank goodness I walked everywhere); the wonderful architecture; the beautiful gardens and parks; the lack of crime; the public transportation system, and, not least, the wonderful people who made us feel at home in their glorious city.

2. Prague is next. I visited it in 1989 by train from Vienna, and then in 1996 we went to see our son marry a lovely young Czech woman in the Old Town Hall--such a beautiful memory.

The Vltava River with its graceful bridges; the grand old buildings; lively Wenceslas Square; the fairy-tale Hradcany complex of St. Vitus Cathedral and Prague Castle; picturesque streets; the food, and the culture: all conspire with its history. to make Prague a favorite.

3. I visited Helsinki in 1990. The ferry and train trip to get there was interesting in itself, and I was impressed with this clean and vibrant city on the Gulf of Finland bounded by sea to the south and forest to the north. I enjoyed the neoclassical old town center, but my most vivid memory is of a boat trip to one of the many islands in the gulf and walking past sunbathers (in birthday suits in May!) to an underground restaurant to feast on reindeer steaks washed down with iceberry wine.